Free Admission and Discounts at MoMA in New York City

How can I visit MoMA for free?

The simplest way: show up on a Friday evening. MoMA’s UNIQLO Free Friday Nights program opens the doors to everyone, no reservation required, from 4 pm to 8 pm every Friday. The galleries stay open the full four hours, and you get access to the same exhibitions as any paid visitor. It is the single best free cultural deal in Midtown Manhattan.

A few things to know about Free Fridays:

• Lines form early. Arrive by 3:30 pm if you want to walk in close to 4.
• The museum is busiest between 5 pm and 6:30 pm. If you can wait, arriving at 6:30 pm gives you a noticeably calmer experience.
• Coat check fills up fast in winter. Wear layers you can carry.

Beyond Fridays, children 16 and under are always admitted free, no matter the day or time.

Are there discounted tickets for students, seniors, or NYC residents?

Yes. MoMA’s tiered pricing breaks down like this:

• Adults (17+): $30
• Seniors (65+): $22
• Full-time students with valid ID: $17
• Children 16 and under: Free
• Members: Free, plus guest privileges depending on membership level

If you hold a valid student ID from a New York City college or university, check whether your school participates in MoMA’s university membership program. Students at participating schools (the list includes The New School, NYU, FIT, CUNY, and others) receive free admission year-round simply by showing their school ID at the ticket desk. No reservation, no code. Just your ID.

New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut residents should also look into IDNYC cardholders’ benefits. IDNYC, the city’s free municipal ID, has historically included a one-year MoMA membership as a cardholder perk. Confirm current availability on the IDNYC benefits page before your visit, as partner offerings rotate annually.

What about museum passes and city discount cards?

Several multi-attraction passes include MoMA admission:

• CityPASS / C3: MoMA is a selectable attraction. You get general admission at a bundled discount.
• New York Pass (Go City): Includes MoMA entry as part of its all-inclusive option.
• The New York Sightseeing Pass: Also covers MoMA.

These passes make the most financial sense if you plan to visit three or more paid attractions in a short trip. If MoMA is your only museum stop, the Friday free night or student pricing is a better deal.

What famous artworks are currently on display at MoMA?

MoMA’s permanent collection is one of the most important in the world. Works you can expect to see on any visit include:

• Vincent van Gogh, The Starry Night (fifth floor)
• Pablo Picasso, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon (fifth floor)
• Claude Monet, Water Lilies (fifth floor)
• Andy Warhol, Campbell’s Soup Cans (fourth floor)
• Salvador Dalí, The Persistence of Memory (fifth floor)
• Henri Matisse, Dance (I) (fifth floor)
• Frida Kahlo, Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair (rotates between floors)

MoMA rotates portions of its collection regularly, so specific gallery placements shift. Grab a free map at the lobby desk or use the MoMA app to locate individual works in real time.

Where is MoMA located, and how do I get there?

MoMA sits at 11 West 53rd Street, between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan.

• Subway: Take the E or M train to Fifth Avenue/53rd Street. The museum entrance is a one-block walk west. The B, D, or F to 47th-50th Streets/Rockefeller Center also works (three-block walk north).
• Walking from Times Square: About 10 minutes northeast.
• Walking from Central Park South: About 5 minutes south on Fifth Avenue.

The museum’s entrance on 53rd Street is the main entry. There is no separate entrance for free Friday visitors; everyone enters through the same doors.

Tips a local would tell you

• Buy timed tickets online for weekend visits. Walk-up lines on Saturdays can stretch 20 to 30 minutes.
• The Sculpture Garden is accessible from the ground floor and is a genuinely peaceful spot in the middle of Midtown. Don’t skip it.
• MoMA Design Store across the street (44 West 53rd Street) is free to browse and worth a stop even if you skip the museum.
• MoMA PS1 in Long Island City, Queens, is MoMA’s contemporary art outpost. Admission is $10, and your MoMA ticket stub gets you in free within 14 days of your MoMA visit.
• If you are visiting multiple NYC art museums, note that the Met operates on a pay-what-you-wish basis for New York State residents. Pair a free MoMA Friday with a pay-what-you-wish Met visit on the same trip to see two world-class collections for almost nothing.